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<P class=story><SPAN class=storyhead>So this character makes this statement where? At a "celebratory conference" marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, of course.</SPAN></P>
<P class=story><SPAN class=storyhead>Hmm...very broadminded of the Brits to allow this fellow to stay in their fair country isn't it?</SPAN></P>
<P class=story><SPAN class=storyhead>TL</SPAN></P>
<P class=story><SPAN class=storyhead></SPAN> </P>
<P class=story><SPAN class=storyhead><A href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/05/wosse705.xml">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/09/05/wosse705.xml</A></SPAN></P>
<P class=story><SPAN class=storyhead>Cleric supports targeting children</SPAN><BR><SPAN class=storyby>By Rajeev Syal</SPAN><BR><I>(Filed: 05/09/2004) </I><BR></P>
<P class=story>An extremist Islamic cleric based in Britain said yesterday that he would support hostage-taking at British schools if carried out by terrorists with a just cause.</P>
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<P class=story>Omar Bakri Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the extremist sect al-Muhajiroun, said that holding women and children hostage would be a reasonable course of action for a Muslim who has suffered under British rule.</P>
<P class=story>In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Mohammed said: "If an Iraqi Muslim carried out an attack like that in Britain, it would be justified because Britain has carried out acts of terrorism in Iraq.</P>
<P class=story>"As long as the Iraqi did not deliberately kill women and children, and they were killed in the crossfire, that would be okay."</P>
<P class=story>Mr Mohammed, 44, who lives in Edmonton, north London, but is originally from Syria, also claimed that the Chechen rebels were not responsible for the deaths of more than 350 people - at least half of them children - who are so far known to have died in Beslan.</P>
<P class=story>"The Mujahideen [Chechen rebels] would not have wanted to kill those people, because it is strictly forbidden as a Muslim to deliberately kill women and children. It is the fault of the Russians," he said.</P>
<P class=story>The father of seven came to Britain in 1985 after being deported from Saudi Arabia because of his membership of a banned group. He has since been given leave by the Home Office to remain in Britain for five years but the Government is reviewing his status.</P>
<P class=story>He gave an interview yesterday to promote a "celebratory" conference in London next Saturday to commemorate the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks.</P>
<P class=story>Andrew Dismore, the Labour MP for Hendon, was infuriated by Mr Mohammed's comments. "That sounds to me like incitement and I will report him to Scotland Yard," he said. "It is an insult to most moderate Muslims, who are sick of people like this claiming to represent them."</P></TD>
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<TD class=sectionhead noWrap>Related reports</TD>
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<TD class=related width="99%"><A href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;sessionid=AEZD4P2TBE4IXQFIQMFCM5OAVCBQYJVC?xml=/news/2004/09/05/wosse05.xml">Death toll above 350</A></TD></TR>
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